Toy airplane



Patented Mar. 16, 1954 TOY AmPLAN E Bruno C. Roehrl, Erie, Pa., assignorto Nosco Plastics, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationJuly 13, 1951, Serial No. 236,599

1 Claim.

This invention is intended to provide an engine toy of the type having aplurality of angularly spaced radial cylinders. Features include amaster connecting rod for operating two or more of the pistons from asingle crank throw which can be easily assembled. In a preferred form,the engine block is transparent so the reciprocation of the pistons asthe crankshaft is rotated simulates the engine operation. When appliedto toy aircraft, the operation of an aircraft engine and propellerduring taxiing is simulated by having a gear drive from the landingwheels to the engine crankshaft.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a sectional view of a radialaircraft engine, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a toy aircraft, partly insection with the connecting rod and pistons removed, and Fig. 3 is anelevation of one of the connecting rods connected to an eccentric loopon the master connecting rod.

In the drawings, there is shown an engine having a plurality ofangularly spaced radial cylinders l in each of which there is a piston2. The particular engine illustrated is a radial aircraft engine whereall of the pistons Z are to be operated from a single crank throw 3 on acrankshaft 4. If the engine were of the multi-row radial or V type,there would be two or more crank throws each of which operated thepistons in its plane. The cylinder block is conveniently made in frontand rear halves 5 and 6 containing respectively the front main bearing'5 and the rear main bearing 8 for the crankshaft. The cylinder blockcan be moulded of transparent plastic so that the operation of thepistons within the cylinders will be readily visible from the outside.It is more convenient to make the entire block of transparent materialthan to provide windows or cut-out portions which would make thereciprocation of the pistons visible. On the front end of thecrankshaft, which projects out through the front main bearing 1, isfixed the hub 9 of an aircraft propeller ii). On the rear end of thecrankshaft, which projects out through the main rear bearing a, is fixeda gear H by which the crankshaft may be rotated.

The driving connection between the crank throw 3 and the pistons 2 isefiected by a master connecting rod l2 and a plurality of individualconnecting rods 13. The master connecting rod has rigid with it aconnecting rod Hi, which can be connected to any one of the pistons 12and serves the same function as the connecting rods l3. As shown moreclearly in Fig. 3, the connecting rods l3 have integral wrist pins l5which snap into the wrist pin bearings It in open-ended slots IT in thepistons 2. A similar wrist pin i8 is integral with connecting rod it onthe master connecting rod. The master connecting rod has a C-shaped slotl9 concentric with the crank pin 3. Eccentric of the crank pin 3 are aplurality of C-shaped slots 29 which can be snapped onto pintles 2! atthe lower end of the connecting rods. 13. By reason of the C-shapedslots 29 and 2d the assembly of the master connecting rod it to thecrank pin 3 and to the pintles 2! of the connecting rods i3 is greatlysimplified. The snap connection provides an adequate pivotal mechanicalconnection which can be easily and quickly made. Furthermore, the masterconnecting rod l2 and the connecting rods [3 can all be moulded in dieswithout any retractable cores. This is an important feature in toyswhere constructions which permit low-cost manufacture are of primeimportance.

The engine is mounted on the nose 22 of an aircraft fuselage 23, therear end of the crankshaft i being carried in a bearing 24. The aircraftmay be pulled about on landing wheels 25 fixed to an axle 26 journaledin depending skirts 21. On the axle is fixed a crown gear 28 whichmeshes with a gear 29 on a vertical counter-shaft 3i! suitably journaledin the aircraft fuselage. On the upper end of the counter-shaft 30 is agear 3| which meshes with the gear H fixed on the crankshaft so that asthe aircraft is pulled about, the crankshaft is driven from the wheels25 by the gear train 23, 29, 3|, ll. Upon rotation of the crankshaft,the pistons reciprocate in the cylinders thereby simulating theoperation of the engine and at the same time the propeller Ill rotates.The pistons and connecting rods are ordinarily made of opaque materialso that the pistons are clearly visible. This produces the desiredanimated effect. The toy has a long life because the moving pistons andconnecting rods are not accessible.

What is claimed as new is:

A toy aircraft having a fuselage with wheels and a simulated enginecomprising a transparent radial engine block having angularly spacedcylinders with pistons therein, a crank-shaft journaled in the blockwith a crank pin opposite the cylinders, and connecting rods between thecylinders and crank pin including a master connecting rod and at leastone individual connecting rod, said master connecting rod having aC-slot therein concentric with the crank pin and having a snap fitthereon and said master connecting rod having at least one C-sloteccentric of the crank pin and having a snap fit on a pintle of saidindividual connecting rod, said crankshaft pistons and connecting rodsbeing visible through the engine'block, and a driving conneetien between the wheels and crankshaft whereby as 5 the aircraft is moved overa, surface the pistons and connecting rods reciprocate and simulate theoperation 01 an aircraft engine.

BRUNO C. ROEHRL. 10

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,392,561 Duffy Oct. 4, 1921 15 Number Number Name DateKraeft June 17, 1930 Brubaker May 5, 1931 Block Sept. 1, 1931 Case May3, 1932 Lower Mar. 24, 1936 Selley Oct. 20, 1936 Knight Aug. 5, 1947Carver Aug. 1, 1950 Kusold July 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGermany June 19, 1928

